Skydance Ups Jesse Sisgold to COO

Sisgold, who was president of business affairs and strategic planning, will report directly to David Ellison.

Jesse Sisgold has been promoted to chief operating officer of Skydance Productions.

Sisgold fills a void left when Paul Schwake exited the post of chief operating officer/chief financial officer in May.

Most recently president of business affairs and strategic planning, Sisgold will now help guide the production and finance company's strategic direction and manage the day-to-day operations across all divisions. He will report directly to David Ellison.

"In his time at Skydance, Jesse has demonstrated a deep understating of our business and creative culture," Ellison said. "His entrepreneurial spirit makes him the perfect choice to continue paving the way for Skydance’s growth into the future."

Sisgold joined Skydance in January to oversee business and legal affairs at the company as well as strategic planning for its expansion. Before that, he was the managing shareholder of his own boutique entertainment and corporate finance law firm in Beverly Hills, Sisgold P.C., where he worked as outside counsel for Skydance. Sisgold was very active in 2013, closing close to $400 million in deals. It served as a go-to advisor for established companies ranging from entertainment to technology and manufacturing firms as well as fund-based and individual financiers.

Prior to launching his own firm, Sisgold worked at the law firms Valle Makoff LLP and Heller Ehrman LLP. In addition to his practice, Sisgold also worked to create and launch the graphic novel company Anomaly Productions.

"I’m extremely honored by this opportunity to help guide Skydance and its amazing team to the next level," Sisgold said. "We are just getting started."

Skydance’s recent films include Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, World War Z, Star Trek: Into Darkness and G.I. Joe: Retaliation. The company is in production on a reinvention of the Terminator franchise, to be released on July 1, 2015, and is scheduled to begin production in October on the Dean Devlin-helmed disaster film Geostorm (to be released March 25, 2016). Skydance is currently developing Mission: Impossible 5 with Christopher McQuarrie directing (scheduled for release Dec. 25, 2015).

On the TV front, Skydance is in production on its first series, Manhattan, for WGN America. The 13-episode period drama series from writer Sam Shaw and director Tommy Schlamme premieres in July.